The ongoing tabloid tirade between Jolie and Jennifer has entertained most of us for the last seven years. In-between sprints on the treadmill and sips at Starbucks, more than a few of us have given way to turning pages dedicated to the tousle between these two. We have painted this dueling duo as the pout-lipped temptress vs. the unsuspecting good wife. However, the subsequent question always follows; how could Brad Pitt love such seemingly different women?

Maybe they aren’t all that different from one another. Sure, one is the cheated and one is the cheater- but who’s keeping track? (Sorry, I guess I am on Team Aniston)

But in all honesty, I could care less about the love triangle going on. What intrigues me is the comparison game between Hollywood’s ‘bad girl’ and Hollywood’s ‘good girl’. Jolie and Aniston provide a clear portrait of a real and present problem with modern-day female interaction. Both of these woman represent the constant pull between two polar opposite female personalities on the spectrum of friendship and foe.

One woman appears to be sunny, outgoing and BFF-ish. The other is stunning, intriguingly talented, and too sexy for her slit (Oh come on we’ve all seen Jolie’s awkward Oscar stance, right?) Sure, Jolie is a UN Refugee Envoy, but still the tabloids can’t seem to get past the Pitt husband-stealing thing. And Aniston has had a string of beaus and is now happy and (perhaps prego?) with Theroux.

The take-away from their tabloid popularity is this: it isn’t about them. It’s about us.

No matter where you fall in the spectrum of good girl vs. bad girl- we can not ignore the cache of comparisons we subject ourselves to on a daily basis. Maybe we aren’t comparing ourselves to Hollywood starlets, but a lot of women run headlong into comparisons with colleagues, friends, and foes; the masochist and the ego-head alike.

Comparison alone (without stress, financial trouble, love-life lulls, etc.) can cause isolation and insecurity. It can also cause us to demean ourselves and ultimately, become depressed. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) 1 in 10 adults in the U.S. are suffering from depression. While there are many other factors present in the diagnoses of depression comparing ourselves unfairly to one another? It certainly can’t be helping.

My mom has always told me that comparing myself to anyone else is like trying to squeeze a glass of orange juice from a rock. Pointless. The beauty of being a woman is how multifaceted we all are. Angelina and Jennifer have both struggled in the love department and they have both had amazing careers. They are just different kinds of the same. Just as you and I.

I know what you’re thinking. Is this another bite-your-tongue-and-be-friends-with-everyone blog? Nope.

I understand that there is no way that every woman can be friends with every woman. There are certain reasons and common interests that allow us to click with some ladies and not with others- (note: lack of morality and modesty is a legitimate reason to nix happy-hour). Regardless of commonalities, there is a danger in comparing ourselves to someone else- to anyone else. Especially if the goal is to make ourselves feel better or worse than them. If we begin counting any woman as unimportant or less valuable (including ourselves), we are collectively lowering our own self worth simultaneously along with theirs.

One of the first books ever written in the history of the world was by a missionary and saint named Paul. He puts it this way. “We’re not, understand, putting ourselves in a league with those who boast that they’re our superiors. We wouldn’t dare do that. But in all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point.”

And that’s the root of the root. If we spend too much mental energy comparing ourselves with others we will have missed the point. Instead of competing in battles we can not win with one another, we should be each other’s biggest supporters and cheerleaders.

You don’t have to give a round of applause to the girl who stole your job by lying about her resume qualifications or the woman who is spreading lies about you around the office to get a promotion. Those aren’t the type of women you need in your life. Instead, take a cue from Aniston herself. If you happen to have an ‘Angelina Jolie’ in your life- do the good girl thing and go on living your life- fully. Happiness is reserved for those who don’t allow someone else to dictate who they are.

“Once you figure out who you are and what you love about yourself, I think it all kinda falls into place.” – Jennifer Aniston

Author, actress, singer-songwriter and model, Megan has successfully gotten to where she wanted to go by creating relationship bridges instead of burning them down. The Founder of the Nice Girls Rule Movement and Author of “Bitch? Please! How Nice Girls Can Succeed in a Bitch’s World”, she hopes to help those who wants to get ahead without leaving their integrity behind. For more information visit: www.meganmunroeauthor.com or visit www.nicegirlsrule.blogspot.com

* This post is from a Girl Power Hour featured blogger. It is not written, edited or endorsed by Girl Power Hour. The authors are solely responsible for content.

Comments

Thanks Kirsten! I can’t wait for the next delish recipe I can try from one of your blogs @healthygirl

Kimberly Gauthier
04.18.2012

Fantastic post, Megan
I love the whore/madonna dichotomy that women have been labeled with and have to admit to feeling judgmental destroyed my happy couple. In reality, I don’t know what happened and I don’t really care, but I still watch in fascination as people continue to vilify Jolie, because it reminds me of something that my mom used to say that I now sadly know to be true: women never have a past, the world will never let us move on from mistakes no matter how much good we do, because anytime we slip up people trot out all the mistakes we make yet again.

I don’t feel sorry for Jolie; but I always feel like I want to hug Jennifer. Now on to my next eye roll – why do people constantly say “there must be something wrong with her” because she isn’t settled down in a relationship. We watch celebrity relationships grow fast and fall apart just as quickly; it’s not even fun to bet on them anymore. So why the surprise that Jennifer spends time single. When George Clooney does it, he’s cool, a man’s man, appreciates not being tied down.

The double standard just cracks me up, because we love to think we’ve come so far and in some ways we have, but in others – we (and I’m including me in that pronoun) are just down to business as usual.

Kimberly- Thank you for your thoughts! I agree about the double standard in society for single men/single women- and unfortunately I don’t see it changing too much. But that’s an entirely different blog I need to write. Ha ha. And yes, while the world may never let us move on from our mistakes (especially those who are in the spotlight), we can move on from them ourselves and learn & grow in the process. So thank you for your thoughtful comment. PS- Your mom sounds a lot like mine.